Chair and tablet arm assembly



March 26, 1957 J. H. CLARIN 2,786,515

CHAIR AND TABLET ARM ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed June 25, 1956 March 26, 1957 Filed June 25, 1956 J- H. CLARIN CHAIR AND TABLET ARM ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I mu United States Patent 2,786,515 CHAIR AND TABLET ARM ASSEMBLY John H. can, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Clarin Mfg. (30., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,706 7 Claims. or. 155-125 This invention relates to chairs having attached tablet arms and is more particularly directed to a folding chair having an automatically foldable tablet or writing arm connected therewith. The tablet arm is automatically moved to a folded or extended position when the chair seat is similarly folded or extended. 7

Chairs With tablet arms attached thereto are of particular utility where writingspace is limited and room for permanently fixed desks or tables is unavailable. In general, the usual type of chair having a tablet arm is designed so that the tablet arm is permanently held in a fixed, extended, operative position. Such chairs are difficuit to stack, store and transport. 7

Certain types of folding chairs are also provided with tablet arms, which may either be permanently fixed in the extended, operative position or whichmay be separately collapsible. The first of these types of folding chairs is also diflicult to store, transport and stack. In the latter type of folding chair and tablet arm combination, the complete folding of the structure to a compact unit requires two separate'operations, the folding of'the chair itself, which may be actuated by folding the seat, and the further operation of collapsing or folding the tablet arm. A particular disadvantage with certain of these folding chairs featuring'collapsable or foldable tablet arms is-the lackof stability and rigidity in the tablet arm when if is in the extended position. The extended tablet arm nia'y move or yield toa slight pressure rendering it readily susceptible to upset" and collapse even though the chaiif'is in its seat-forming position. Writing may be difficult to carry out upon such an exte'nded unstable tablet arm.

The main object-of this invention is to p-rovidea' chair having atablet arm which is firm and'stable in the extended position,- and which is also automatically folded when the chair seat is folded and similarly automatically extended to the operative position when the chair seat is extended. A further object of this invention is to provide a foldable chair having a foldable tablet arm attached thereto which is of simplesturdy construction and low cost: Another object of this invention is to provide for chair'sor" the-folding type, a simple, automatically foldable tablet arm assembly which may be quickly moved between an operative, extended and locked position,- and a fully folded position. Further objects of this invention willbe'apparent from'a study of the following detailed description.

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention is set'forth in the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a folding chair and attached tablet' arm assembly embodying thisinvention, the tablet arm'being shown in its' raisedor extended position;

Figure 2 is anenlarged, side elevational view of the chair and tablet arm assembly in a'fully folded position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view' of the chair andtablet arm'assembly, partly in section, withthe chair and tabletarm in a partially'exterrded position;

Figure 4- is an enlarged, side elevational view of the chair and tablet arm assembly in the fully extended position; v a

Figure 5 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken along theline 5' 5 ofFigure 4. v

Identical parts of construction in the various figures are-numbered identically. g p w The folding chair 6 with attached tablet arm assembly embodying certainof the novel features of this invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a backrest 8 fixed to a U shaped frame 10. Frame 10 includes at its lower extremities a pair of front legs 12. Chair 6 also includes a seat 14 and a pair of rear legs 16. Rear legs 16 are pivotally inter-connected with the front legs 12 by suitable means including a pair of pins or rivets 18. Thus, the rear legs 16 are foldable relative to the front legs 12 provided by the U-shaped frame 10 in a scissor-like manner. The end portions of each of the four legs are preferably provided with rubber shoes or feet 44 or a similar non-skid, non-marring, simple construction. A tablet arm assembly 20 is provided which is constructed and attached to chair 6 so as to cooperate therewith in accordance with this invention. The backrest Sis preferably metal but may instead be fabricated from wood or other suitable materials.

The U-shaped frame 10 is illustrated as being'formed from a flat metal strip, the edges of which are rolled inwardly to provide beads 22 as a stiffening means forthe frame. Accordingly, the frame 10 is generally channelshaped in cross section. The front legs 12'are provided with cross braces 24 and 26 formed with rolled edges in the manner described for U-shaped frame 10; The-cross braces are preferably secured to front legs 12 by spot welding, although bolts, rivets, etc. may instead be employed. Laterally extending braces 28 are connected between cross brace24 and each leg 12 to assure rigid construction. An additional bracing member 26 is provided for the frame 10 and is located under and adjacent to seat 14 in supporting relation thereto when seat 14 is in its operative or chair-forming position. Rear legs 16 are also provided with cross braces 30 and 32 for assuring more structural rigidityand stability.

Inthe illustrative embodiment, seat 14 comprises a Wood panel bound along its periphery by a channelshaped metal strip 34. However, seat 14 may be fabricated from any other suitable material and may be of any. other design commensurate with the cooperating features of chair 6. Seat 14 issupported on opposite sides adjacent its rear edge by a pair of links 36 which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to an upper portion of the frame it), as by pins 37, and at their lower ends to the metal strip 34' bounding the periphery of the seat 14, as by the pins 39. A lower extension 38 (Figures l, 3 and 4) on each of the links 36 is adapted for engagement with the upper cross brace 26 to limit the forward swinging movement of links 36 as seat 14 is moved to its extended, operative position. Furthermore,

a stud or pin it (Figures 3 and 4) is provided on the metal strip 34' rearward of each of the links 36 to limit their rearward movement as seat 14 is moved rearwardly and upwardly to its collapsed position shown in Figure 2. This coaction of studs 46 and links 3'6prevents seat 14 from moving to an over-center position with respect to the U-shaped frame 10, from which position it would be difficult to disengage the seat and move it to a chairfolding extended position;

For'wardly of the seat-supporting links 36, seat 14- is further pivotally supported at opposite sides thereof by the upper portions of a pair of strap members 42 and 43 which are pivotally connected'to the U-shaped frame 1.0 at an intermediate point therealong by the pins'l 8. Thelower ends of strap members 42 and43 are fixed to the upper portions of rear legs 16 for movement therewith about the pivot center 18 on frame 10. Strap member 42 on the side of the chair construction to which the tablet arm is attached is adapted for fixed attachment (Figures 1, 3 and 4) to a portion of the tablet arm assembly. Accordingly, said strap member 42 at its upper end has a laterally extending, generally U-shaped portion 46 which is pivotally attached to the tablet arm assembly, as by a pin 48.

It will be seen, therefore, that movement of seat 14 relative to the U-shaped frame 10, through swinging movement of the links 36, carries with it the rear pair of legs 16, so that the rear legs and seat move together to an extended or a collapsed position relative to the front pair of legs 12, as desired.

The tablet arm assembly 20 comprises a generally planar tablet arm 50 having an enlarged forward section for writing purposes and a narrowed rearward section. The tablet arm is preferably of wood but may also be fabricated from any suitable material, such as metal, and may be of any other conventional shape suitable for use with the folding chair construction. The tablet arm is pivotally connected at a rearward position to an upper portion of frame by means of an inverted L-shaped bar 52, one end of which is fixedly connected to the rearward portion of the tablet arm by bolt 54 (Figures 2 and 4) and the other end of which is pivotally connected to frame 10 by a pivot pin 56 which is suitably fixed on the frame 10 in laterally extending relation thereto.

The tablet arm 50 is further connected to the chair 6 forward of the above-mentioned pivot connection 56 by means comprising a bar 58, a hinge pin 59, a connection link 60, and a brace member 62. Bar 58 is bolted or otherwise firmly attached to the underside of the forward portion of tablet arm 50 in transverse relation thereto. Bar 58 has depending legs 64 at opposite ends thereof which are provided with aligned openings for receiving the hinge pin 59. The forward portion of link 60 is generally channel-shaped with the opposite flanges disposed to fit between the legs 64 and having openings therein which are alignable with the openings in the legs 64 to receive the hinge pin 59. The rearward portion of link 60 is narrowed and is pivotally connected to the brace member 62 by the pin 48.

Brace member 62 is generally L-shaped in cross section and is connected to the link 60 at pivotal point 48 so that a portion 66 of brace member 62 overlies a rearwardly extending portion 70 of link 60 when tablet arm 50 is in a fully extended position. This toggle-like arrangement of the supporting members for the tablet arm has the function of limiting the relative movement between link 60 and the brace 62. That is, when tablet arm 50 is fully raised and extended, link 60 cannot be further moved in a downward and forward direction, since the upper rearward surface 76 of link 60 and the forward lower surface 66 of brace member 62 abutt, and brace member 62 is rigidly attached to rear leg 16. Increased stability of tablet arm 50 when in the fully operative position is thereby achieved.

Link 60 is also provided with a hole or slot 68 along its upper rearward surface 70 underlying the abutting portion 66 of brace member 62 (Figures 2, 3 and 4). This hole or slot is engaged by a downwardly projecting pin 72 provided in portion 66 of brace member 62. When the chair and tablet arm assembly are in the fully extended position, pin 72 engages slot 68, thereby further assuring a stable, fixed position for the tablet arm 50 during its use as a writing surface.

Brace member 62 is pivotally attached at point 18, which is also the pivotal connection between the front and rear legs of the chair. As previously indicated, the brace member 62 is also fixed to the rear leg 16 by suitable fastening means such as the rivet 74, located at the lower end of the brace member. Brace member 62 is spaced apart from front leg 12, strap member 42 and rear leg 16, except at its points of connection there with, in order to permit relative movement between the front and rear legs about the pivot 18.

It is seen, therefore, that brace member 62 and the associated rear leg 16 form with link 68 a toggle. Since brace member 62 is rigidly connected with rear leg 16, it may be considered an extension thereof. Consequently, the toggle may be considered to be formed by the cooperation of link 60 with rear leg 16. Further, the movement of seat 14 from a folded position wherein the seat and tablet arm are disposed in downwardly extending relation to the main frame 10, as shown in Figure 2, to an operative extended position shown in Figures 1 and 4 is accompanied by the automatic forward and upward extension of tablet arm 50 to the operative position. That is, when the seat 14 is moved to an extended operative position by the application of force, the arrangement of members as set forth in this invention provides automatic and simultaneous extension of tablet arm 50 to the operative position.

More particularly, movement of seat 14 forwardly and downwardly, from the folded position in Figure 2, causes rotation of tablet arm 50 upwardly around the pivot point 56 on frame 10. At the same time, rear legs 16 rotate around pivot points 18, due to force transmitted from the seat through strap members 42 and 43, with the section of rear legs 16 below pivot point 18 moving rearwardly. This movement of the rear legs is accompanied by a forward movement of the brace member 62 about the pivot 18. The toggle arrangement of brace bar member 62 with link 60 causes link 60 simultaneously to rotate around pivot point 48 in a forwardly and upwardly direction, raising tablet arm 50 to its operative position.

As above-mentioned, when tablet arm 50 is in its operative position, portion 66 of brace member 62 aids in preventing further rotation of link 60 and pin 72 and slot 68 engage to further aid in stabilizing the tablet arm by locking the toggle members 60 and 62 in their aligned position of support for the tablet arm.

The chair and associated tablet arm assembly may be moved from the fully extended operative position to the folded position, as shown in Figure 2, wherein both chair and tablet arm are fully folded into a compact, easily stacked, stored, or transported unit, by pushing seat 14 rearwardly and upwardly. This advances the lower ends of the rear legs toward the front legs and simultaneously breaks the above-described toggle, thereby causing link 60 to rotate around pivot point 48 in a downwardly and rearwardly direction, together with tablet arm 50. Thus, link 60 and tablet arm 50 are moved to a fully folded position. Brace member 62, being an upper extension of one of the rear legs 16, simultaneously moves upwardly and rearwardly towards U-shection 10 to the fully folded position seen in Figure 2.

The arrangement described in the foregoing provides an unusually stable tablet arm which is of simple construction. There is no danger of upsetting the tablet arm when it is in the operative position with the chair in its seat-forming position. Folding of the chair automatically folds the tablet arm, so that the fully folded unit is flat and occupies little space. Similarly, the unfolding of the chair is accompanied by an automatic positioning of the. tablet arm in its operative position. Moreover, the construction is easy to manipulate, requiring a minimum of effort to fold and unfold.

Although only one specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications of the construction of this invention might be made without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a folding chair comprising pivotally interconnected front and rear legs, a seat hingedly interconnected with said legs for movement therewith from an unfolded position to a folded position in substantially coplanar relation with said legs, and a tablet arm assembly attached to one side of said chair comprising a tablet arm pivoted to one of said front legs, a link pivoted adjacent one end to said tablet arm at a point remote from the point of pivoting of said tablet arm with said one leg, and means pivotally interconnecting the other end of said link with the rear leg associated with said one front leg and forming therewith a toggle.

2. In combination, a folding chair comprising front and rear legs pivotally interconnected for scissors folding relative action, a seat hingedly interconnected with said legs for relative movement therewith from an unfolded operative position to a folded position substantially coplanar with said legs, a backrest fixedly connected to said front legs at the upper ends thereof, and a tablet arm assembly attached to one side of said chair comprising a tablet arm pivoted to one of said front legs, at a point above said seat, a link pivoted to said tablet arm at a point remote from the point of pivoting of said tablet arm With said front leg, said link also being pivoted to the adjacent one of rear legs at a point above said seat and apart from said first link pivot and forming with said leg a toggle, whereby movement of said legs to a fully extended position is accompanied by automatic unfolding of said tablet arm to a fully extended position.

3. In combination, a folding chair comprising pivotally interconnected scissors folding pairs of front and rear legs, a seat hingedly interconnected with said legs for relative movement therewith from an unfolded position to a folded position substantially coplanar with said 'legs, and, a tablet arm assembly on one side of said chair, comprising a tablet arm pivoted to one of said legs at a point above the pivotal interconnection of said front and rear legs, a link pivoted adjacent one end to said tablet arm at a point remote from the point of pivoting of said tablet arm with said one leg, and a brace member pivoted to said link adjacent the other end of said link, said brace member also being fixedly attached to the other of said legs at a point remote from the pivot with said link and above said pivotal interconnection of said front and rear legs, said link with said brace member forming a toggle, whereby movement of said legs to a fully extended position is accompanied by automatic unfolding of said tablet arm to a fully extended position.

4. In combination, a folding chair, comprising pivotally interconnected pairs of scissors-folding front and rear legs, a seat hingedly interconnected with said legs for relative movement therewith from an unfolded position to a folded position substantially coplanar with said legs, and a tablet arm assembly on one side of said chair comprising a tablet arm pivoted to one front leg at a point above the pivotal interconnection of said one front leg and the associated rear leg, a link pivoted adjacent one end thereof to said tablet arm forward of the point of pivoting with said front leg and above said pivotal interconnection of said front and rear legs, said link also being pivotally connected adjacent its other end with said one rear leg to form therewith a toggle.

5. In combination, a folding chair, comprising pivot ally interconnected pairs of scissors-folding front and rear legs, a seat hingedly interconnected with said legs for relative movement therewith from an unfolded, seatforming position to a folded position substantially coplanar with said legs, and a tablet arm assembly on one side of said chair comprising a tablet arm pivoted to one front leg at a point above the pivotal connection of said one front leg and the me rear leg pivoted thereon, a link pivoted at one end to said tablet arm forward of the point of pivoting with said front leg and above said pivotal interconnection of said one front and the associated rear leg, said link being pivotally connected at its other end with said one rear leg to form therewith a toggle, whereby movement of said legs to an unfolded position is accompanied by automatic unfolding of said tablet arm to a raised, forwardly extending position, and a releasable locking means including cooperable means on said link and said one rear leg for coaction when said tablet arm is in a fully extended position and said link and said one roar leg are essentially co-linear to lock the toggle-forming members in their tablet arm supporting positions.

6. In combination, a folding chair, comprising pivotally interconnected pairs of scissors-folding front and rear legs, a seat hingedly interconnected with said legs for relative movement therewith between an unfolded position, and a folded position substantially coplanar with said legs, and a tablet arm assembly on one side of said chair comprising a tablet arm pivotally connected to one front leg at a point above said seat when said seat is in an operative position, a link pivoted to the underside of said tablet arm forward of the point of pivoting of said tablet arm with said one front leg, said link also being pivoted to a brace member spaced from said first link pivot, said brace member being fixedly attached at a point above said seat when said seat is in an operative position to the rear leg associated With said one front leg, whereby said brace member and said link form together a toggle support for said tablet arm.

7. in combination, a folding chair, comprising pivotally interconnected pairs of scissors-folding front and rear legs, a seat hingedly interconnected with said legs for relative movement between an unfolded position and a folded position substantially coplanar with said legs,

a backrest fixedly connected to said front legs at a point above said seat, and a tablet arm assembly attached to one side of said chair comprising a tablet arm pivotally connected to a front leg at a point above said seat when said seat is in a fully extended position, a link pivoted to the underside of said tablet arm forward of the point of pivoting of said tablet arm with said front leg, said link also being pivoted to a brace member spaced apart from said first link pivot, said brace member being fixedly attached adjacent one end thereof at a point above said seat when said seat is in a fully extended position to the rear'leg associated with said front leg, said brace member and said link forming together a toggle, whereby movement of said legs to a fully extended position is accompanied by automatic unfolding of said seat tablet arm to a fully extended position, said brace member extending over a portion of said link, when said tablet arm is in a fully extended position, whereby said brace member limits the direction of movement of said link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,661,937 Fischer et al Mar. 6, 1928 2,048,014 Lochman et al. July 21, 1936 2,675,062 Clarin Apr. 13, 1954 

